Best Takoyaki in Dotonbori, Osaka, Japan: 2 Shops I Tried
If you’re heading to Osaka, takoyaki is one snack you absolutely have to eat.
I already loved it before this trip, so even on a short Osaka itinerary,
I ended up buying takoyaki about four different times.
Out of those, I’m only rounding up the two places I actually took photos of.
These are two takoyaki specialty shops in Dotonbori, Osaka, Japan:
Takotako King / Takoyaki Juhachiban Dotonbori
Locations are tagged on Google Maps above.
Best Takoyaki in Dotonbori: Takotako King
First up, Takotako King.
There are actually several Takotako King locations around this area,
so you don’t have to go to this exact branch,
but I picked one that was close by and had a Google rating over 4.0.
It’s a tucked-away little takoyaki spot hidden in an alley, with a fun, slightly hip vibe.
There were seats inside if you wanted to eat there,
but we stopped by after dinner when we were already pretty full,
so we ordered takeout.
6 pieces for 400 yen, 8 pieces for 500 yen
So if you break it down per piece, the 8-piece order is a slightly better deal.
They only accept cash.
They also gave us a takeaway menu that was easier to read, so I snapped a photo.
The sauce options were BBQ, salt, soy sauce, vinegar (?), and mentaiko mayo.
That makes it sound like there are four options,
but since the photo says ponzu,
I’m guessing that “vinegar” was actually meant to be ponzu sauce.
I asked which sauce was the best,
and they recommended the BBQ, so that’s what we ordered for our 6-piece set.
Both the owner and staff were really kind.
I ended up eating it later that night at the hotel as a late-night snack.
Even after it had cooled down, it was still delicious.
I especially loved that soft, almost creamy Osaka-style center.
Takoyaki Juhachiban Dotonbori Review
Next up, the second shop.
This place had a giant takoyaki model attached to the sign,
and there was a pretty decent line too, which is always a good sign.
Even with a line, it moved pretty quickly,
so the wait didn’t feel long at all.
Plus, you can watch them cook the takoyaki while you wait, so it’s not boring.
I’ll admit I was a little disappointed they weren’t wearing masks,
but the kitchen area you could glimpse in the back looked clean,
and for street food, it still felt pretty hygienic overall.
You place your order at the vending machine ticket kiosk, and it’s cash only here too.
The machine shows pictures of the menu items,
so it’s easy to decide based on what looks best.
After ordering, you just tell the staff whether you want to eat it right away or take it to go.
We chose to eat ours on the spot.
The takoyaki balls were big, and they were generous with the fillings too.
This time we got 8 pieces.
I chose the sauce-and-mayonnaise option,
and it was 770 yen, so definitely a bit pricier.
Since we ate it right away, it was seriously hot,
so I had to blow on each bite before eating it.
The octopus pieces inside weren’t tiny either, and honestly, it was so good.
For reference, most Osaka takoyaki seems to include ginger,
and even though I personally don’t love the taste of ginger,
I still really enjoyed this.
I did choose places with strong ratings,
but honestly, every takoyaki I had in Osaka was delicious.
So my feeling is that you could probably stop almost anywhere
and still end up with something tasty.
If you’re visiting Osaka, definitely eat as much takoyaki as you can.